Top Meal Delivery When You’re Dealing With Cancer In 2024

It’s easier to think ahead when going through cancer treatments, so you have handy meals ready when you’re not feeling up for cooking. Some cancer patients cook large portions on days they’re feeling good, and they defrost the meals for an easy dinner on more challenging days. If you want a home-cooked meal, it can be helpful to have that prepped and ready.

Cancer patients find it handy to keep foods around that are very easy to eat and require no preparation, like baby carrots in a bag or protein bars. Taking a multivitamin can be helpful as well to ensure that you’re getting all your vitamins daily.

Some people with a cancer diagnosis find that relying on meal delivery kits is a convenient, healthy way to plan tasty, quick meals.

Many meal delivery services offer meals that are prepped and ready to eat – just heat them in the microwave or oven. Sun Basket is our favorite meal delivery kit for cancer patients because all the food is entirely organic, the ingredients are fresh and high-quality, and each dish is packed with protein and nutrients.

Sun Basket will deliver ingredients to your door, or if you prefer, pre-made meals with tons of flavor and variety. This can make it easier to plan your weekly meals as a cancer patient since you may not feel like cooking some days.

Having food delivered through a meal delivery program can help keep your diet focused on lean meats and veggies, which provide the protein and nutrients you need. And, it’s all delivered directly to your door. These home meal deliveries can be a great way to plan your meal schedule when you don’t have the energy to cook.

Having your groceries delivered is also a great tip for many cancer patients. Most grocery delivery services allow you to select items online beforehand, so your “shopping cart” can be from your computer or phone. So if you’re tired or feeling sick, this is a great way to make sure you get all your shopping done without leaving the house.

As part of your cancer care, don’t be afraid to ask for help – getting your meals taken care of is one less thing to worry about.

Although you may not feel like sometimes eating during your cancer treatment, getting all vitamins, minerals, and nutrients is essential to keep your body strong. Good nutrition is vital to support your body through cancer treatments.

When you don’t feel like eating, it may be helpful to find a liquid source of nutrition, like fortified protein shakes or smoothies, to get in a helping of fruits and veggies.

The American Cancer Society recommends a diet full of fruits, veggies, healthy grains, and lean proteins – and be sure to limit red meat, sugar, and processed food. Your oncology nutrition plan should include a full range of vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and calories, along with plenty of hydration. The American Cancer Society also recommends staying at a healthy weight, so be sure to eat enough calories so you can stay strong and energized.

The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends focusing on beans, legumes, whole grains, fruits, and veggies as part of a cancer-fighting diet.

We also suggest that you try to eat smaller amounts throughout the day more frequently. This is a great way to ensure you get a steady dose of nutrition without getting overly full. Eating snacks throughout the day can help you meet the full scope of your nutritional needs.

Meal delivery may be helpful during cancer treatment because you can select meals online. Meal delivery services like Sun Basket, Diet to Go, and Green Chef will deliver fresh ingredients or pre-made meals right to your door, so you don’t have to worry about it.

Consider what foods you love and sound appetizing to you. Center your meals around them, and try to avoid foods that aren’t your favorite or might not smell good to you during this time. Cancer or treatments may have impacted your taste preferences, so try to lean on foods that smell and taste good to you now. Treatment side effects may include nausea, so avoid overly salty foods or have a very strong smell.

If you’re feeling extra hungry one day, try to take advantage of that feeling and have a big meal! This will help you get some nutrition and calories, even if you’re not feeling super appetized later in the day.

Meal delivery services bring healthy food right to your doorstep, whether that’s a meal kit of ingredients you make at home, like HelloFresh or Green Chef, or prepared meals like with Factor or BistroMD. Either way, you’ll get a weekly box of healthy food to suit your taste and needs. 

While most require a subscription, skipping a week, pausing, or even canceling your subscription through your online account is very easy.

Meal kit services like HelloFresh can remove the stress and effort from meal planning. This gives cancer patients more time to rest while getting nutritious meals daily. HelloFresh offers a vast menu of healthy recipes with lean proteins and veggies, which is ideal for getting a healthy meal on the table with minimal effort.

After being diagnosed with cancer and beginning treatment, it is essential to focus on a healthy diet rich in nutrients to support your immune system. Focus on getting enough protein from lean meats like chicken and seafood, and eat plenty of antioxidant-rich vegetables. For more details on a healthy diet for cancer patients, see this article from Keck Medicine. 

It is important to eat a balanced diet while fighting cancer. However, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research, some foods are considered especially healthy. They list leafy greens like spinach and kale as the top cancer-fighting foods, along with whole grains and soy.